BP Chats

But wouldn't it be beneficial for ALL wannabe managers to play lots of Strat and see how to construct a lineup, work through double-switches, warm up relievers, engage in situational hitting?(dianagramr from NYC)

A few years ago, I suggested that it would be really cool to launch sort of a seminar series, where you could have minor-league managers and coaches listen to Chuck Tanner or Whitey Herzog talk about the running game, or to Earl Weaver or Dick Williams about in-game tactics, or the late Johnny Sain to talk about workloads. But that would be collective, and the industry favors competition; why let Whitey Herzog talk to anybody else, if you want to hear what he has to say? Put him on the payroll as an adviser, and don't share. As is, in-game tactics aren't exactly rocket science--indeed, much of the stuff sabermetrics "discovers" on this front simply documents previously observed and understood phenomena, going back not just to Earl Weaver or Whitey Herzog, but Casey Stengel or Joe McCarthy. (Christina Kahrl)

Chuck Tanner? Steve Boros? It's kooky, but then we're in a situation where we're debating the merits of Juan Pierre at $5 million plus versus a non-answer like Podzilla for under $2 million. Picking the former's the better answer if you start with the assumption neither's an offensive asset, since Podsednik's not a CF any more, but for that much? Why not check out Coco Crisp or Endy Chavez? (Christina Kahrl)

So, what's a good book on the Crimean War? Need to update the historical aspect of the bookcase. On another note, any chance We can talk Sweet Lou in putting an anchor on Fontenot and Theriot when they reach first base?(strupp from Madison)

Ah, but see, speed's in vogue at present, because the better we can quantify its value or notice things like last year's Angels team ridiculously outperforming its projection, the more people might think a return to the days of Chuck Tanner's go-go brand of baseball might be some super secret formula for victory.

Speaking of Lord Cardigan-level tactical silliness, Trevor Royle's one-volume history is handy and does an excellent job of expanding the scope of the conflict to all of its non-Crimean dimensions; there's also been a couple of especially outstanding books done on the charges by the Light and Heavy Brigades at Balaclava that have come out in recent years, by Mark Adkin and Terry Brighton. (Christina Kahrl)